Katherine Li is the cofounder of PulseFX, a fintech company specializing in foreign exchange (FX) services, payment optimization, and risk mitigation for businesses and individuals.
We are pleased to present the annual list of Top Female Founders & Leaders to Watch 2025 edition. This compilation represents one of our most extensive coverages in leadership, shining a spotlight on some of the most incredible founders, innovators, and change-makers. These individuals are making significant strides in AI, fintech, recruiting, and various other fields—reshaping industries and inspiring the next generation.
Among this year’s standout leaders are the minds behind Boast, a funding platform accelerating access to capital for growing companies; Maple, an all-in-one revenue management platform built to support any pricing model and sales motion; Chocolate Soup, which is redefining employee recognition and workplace culture; and eeva, a company transforming the invisible labor of daily life at home into something simple, shared, and smart. Check out the full list to discover many more women-led companies that are driving impact and building the future across sectors.
Featured Content from Community
Looking to hire students? Riipen FuturePath is a paid program that connects businesses with top student talent through employer-curated, real-world projects. Riipen FuturePath connects businesses with top students, creating a direct pathway from education to employment. For businesses, it’s an opportunity to tap into fresh perspectives, fuel innovation, and secure talent before they enter the workforce.
Lin Sok
Vicki Knott
Jessica Luczycki
Aletia Trakakis
Vanessa Franz
Marlina Kinnersley
Virginia Poly
Cindy Diogo
Briana Sim
Spila Trakaki
Brooke Finlay
Kasey Bayne
Kyla Mireault
Mariana Santos
Alexandra Kapelos-Peters
Jessica Smith
Karen Wong
Angie Kramer
Mell Truong
Karli Leitl
Samantha Lloyd
Miriam Dong
Kayli Smith
Megan Hall
Miki Ferrall
Christine Kim
Nino Melikidze
Anita Grant
April Hicke
Ruchi Varshney
Heather Odendaal
Cerys Goodall
Rebecca Graham
Adrienne Jung
PJ Lowe
Katherine Li
Sarah Lesperance
Purvaja Soochit
Anastasia Hambali
38. Lin Sok
Company: owni.ai
Linkedin: Lin Sok
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. OWNI.ai is the Tinder of home buying, matching qualified single individuals with potential co-purchasing partners.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? We are launching our MVP March 30th at an event in Montreal. I’ve been in the financial services industry for 20 years and the last 10 years have been spent focused on growing a community and creating ambassadors for my business. I also have strong personal branding and have leveraged story telling on social media platforms to organically grow my sales pipeline. I intend to use the same model to grow and scale OWNI.ai.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Don’t buy into “do what you love” just yet. Crunch your numbers. Make sure your business can financially support your lifestyle, use available tools to help make your plan, and learn to scale your business if you don’t want to be “stuck”. Minimize wasted time. Be around people with a strong business mindset and become okay with spending lots of time alone (because people who have a strong business mindset tend to not be “around” all the time for things like “coffee dates”).
38. Vicki Knott
Company: cruxocm.com
Linkedin: Vicki Knott
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. I’m CEO and co-founder of CruxOCM, delivering innovative robotic industrial process automation software for industrial control room operators.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively?Focus relentlessly on the customer—understand their pain points and build solutions that truly serve them. Don’t get sidetracked by external validation like investors; those will follow if you’re delivering real value.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Don’t be afraid to challenge outdated norms—especially in industries that resist change. Bring your full self, lead differently, and build something that matters.
37. Jessica Luczycki
Company: part3.io
Linkedin: Jessica Luczycki
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. As Chief Customer Officer, I drive onboarding, adoption & support. I bridge customer needs with our product teams to deliver great UX & ongoing customer success.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? In the early days, our approach to customer success was scrappy and manual. As we’ve scaled, we’ve introduced tools to support in-app guidance and launched a dedicated knowledge center. We’ve also implemented platforms to monitor customer usage and collect data that informs both our product and success strategies. Our onboarding experience has evolved to offer greater flexibility, now including live webinars, on-demand recordings, and dedicated training sessions.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Starting scrappy is tough, but it teaches you a lot. As you scale, make choices that will help you in a year, not just an interim solution that you will need to change again. Using data to drive your decisions has proven to be the best path for us.
36. Aletia Trakakis
Company site: kakushin.io
Linkedin: Aletia Trakakis
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. I am a multifaceted entrepreneur and innovator. As the co-founder of Kakushin, I specializes in AI-driven solutions, user experience design, and business analysis. `My work spans various sectors, including fashion tech, edtech, and health tech, where I integrate algorithmic thinking with creative problem-solving. I am a startup advocate and education enthusiast, dedicated to developing impactful, user-centered technologies.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Scaling a business—or even a career—often feels like juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle. But with the right strategies (and a decent sense of balance), that chaos can turn into serious momentum.
For me, starting lean and iterating fast has been essential: launch the minimum viable version, listen to users, and adapt quickly. As Reid Hoffman put it, “If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” Relationships are another secret ingredient. I don’t just collect contacts—I build authentic collaborations where everyone wins. Helping others grow has a way of coming full circle, often in ways you don’t expect.
A clear sense of purpose keeps me grounded through uncertainty. Purpose beats panic every time. And I’m a big believer in automating and delegating early—because if a robot (or someone else) can do it better, why not? User experience is at the heart of everything I build. Whether it’s a tech solution or a service, I always ask, “Would I actually love using this?” Balancing creativity with data, using storytelling to bring ideas to life, and obsessing (in a healthy way) over design—those are the tools I reach for daily. Oh, and never underestimate the power of humour and humility. If you can laugh while building, you’re already ahead.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Don’t wait for perfect—launch when it’s good enough to learn from. Perfection is often procrastination in disguise. The best entrepreneurs I’ve seen aren’t the ones with the most polished plans; they’re the ones who start, listen, adapt, and persist. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, not just cheer for you. Yes-men and ego boosts are lovely, but growth comes from friction—constructive, respectful, but honest feedback. Find mentors, collaborators, even customers who tell you the truth. Also: fall in love with the problem, not just your solution. Your first idea may not be the one that sticks—but if your curiosity and commitment to solving real pain points are strong, you’ll find the right path.
Take care of your energy, not just your calendar. Burnout doesn’t make you a hero—it just makes you tired. You are your greatest asset, so protect your time, your boundaries, and your mental clarity like gold.
And finally, remember this quote from Maya Angelou: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Keep building. Keep learning. And never be afraid to pivot with grace—and maybe a little laughter too.
35. Vanessa Franz
Company: privy.reviews
Linkedin: Vanessa Franz
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Privy Reviews empowers influencers with innovative tech tools that streamline management, boost engagement, and maximize monetization potential.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Building strategic networks and cultivating my online personal brand have been instrumental to my growth, while maintaining consistency across product updates and customer engagement has built trust with influencers and their teams. My product development philosophy prioritizes solving immediate pain points for quick adoption while architecting for long-term value, supported by data-driven decision-making that optimizes our resources for maximum impact. By embracing continuous learning in the rapidly evolving influencer ecosystem, we’ve anticipated industry shifts and positioned our tools as forward-thinking solutions that users value both today and will continue to appreciate for years to come.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Finding a co-founder with complementary skills is crucial for entrepreneurial success, as it allows you to leverage different perspectives and expertise while sharing the emotional and practical burdens of building a business. Ship your products or services quickly to gain real-world validation, then actively seek and implement customer feedback to iterate rapidly, creating a virtuous cycle of improvement that keeps you ahead of competitors. Remember that perfection is often the enemy of progress—the sooner you get your solution into users’ hands, the faster you’ll learn what truly matters to them and how to create lasting value.
34. Marlina Kinnersley
Company: fortay.ai
Linkedin: Marlina Kinnersley
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Fortay.ai is an AI-powered, leader-centric Employee Experience platform that helps business leaders build inclusive, high-performance cultures at scale for business success.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? The most important strategy for us has been staying relentlessly focused on our customers’ evolving needs—especially around inclusion, engagement, and leadership development. We’ve embedded science-backed methodologies and AI-driven insights into our platform to create measurable value and business impact. We also prioritized co-designing solutions with our early customers, which deepened trust and gave us product-market fit faster. Scaling from that foundation has been much more intentional and sustainable.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Every great product starts by solving a real burning problem—one that people care deeply about. Then talk to your potential customers, a lot. The best insights come from listening deeply and being willing to change your approach based on feedback. Don’t fall in love with your solution—fall in love with the problem and your purpose. Purpose driven entrepreneurs bounce back from adversity faster as missions are powerful motivators that attract others to support you when you’re trying to make a difference in the world!
33. Virginia Poly
Company: polycareers.com
Linkedin: Virgina Poly
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. I help companies build high-performing teams by finding top local and global tech talent through smart, flexible hiring solutions and tools.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? I’ve always focused on doing great work, one client at a time. Building trust, staying hands-on, and evolving with the market, whether that meant going remote, expanding globally, or launching new tools like PolyCareers—have been key to long-term growth.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Start small, stay focused, and don’t wait for perfect. Build trust through action, not just ideas. The biggest wins often come from showing up consistently, listening closely, and solving real problems better than anyone else.
32. Cindy Diogo
Company: consoulapp.com
Linkedin: Cindy Diogo
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. ConSoul is redefining workplace support by tackling the invisible care load—the mental, emotional, and logistical burden that traditional benefits fail to address.
We built a platform to reduce burnout by offloading the complex demands of care—before it costs companies their best people.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Our growth strategy has been rooted in solving a clearly defined, large-scale problem through targeted positioning, lean experimentation, and strategic partnerships.
To date, we’ve raised nearly $400,000 in non-dilutive funding from leading Canadian innovation organizations that recognize the urgent need to support families navigating complex care responsibilities. These partners see our platform not only as a wellness solution, but as a critical investment in workforce sustainability and mental health, especially as the aging population places increasing pressure on employees and the broader economy.
We’ve validated our business model through pilot programs with employers and research institutions, ensuring we are building with—and not just for—our users. By focusing on integration with existing benefits, we’ve positioned ConSoul as a scalable, high-impact solution that reduces turnover, burnout, and productivity loss at the organizational level.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Everyone talks about grit but proving people wrong is just as powerful. If you’re building in an overlooked space or tackling big, messy problems, expect doubt. Use it. That chip on your shoulder can be fuel.
Also: don’t spend all your time pitching in the early days. Build something real. Test it. Pivot fast. Sell sooner than you think you’re ready. Traction will always speak louder than a polished deck.
31. Briana Sim
Company: simplicitycms.ca
Linkedin: Briana Sim
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. SimpliCity is the only composable CMS that unifies municipal digital services.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Building strong relationships has been one of the biggest factors in growing my business and career. Over the years, there have been customers, advisors, managers, and colleagues who helped me see a bigger vision for myself and for my company. I try to add value to my relationships too, whether by being a sounding board, offering help when I can, or simply being someone who listens. In return, I’ve been lucky to build a circle of people who not only cheer me on when I need it most but also open doors and offer support in ways I could never have predicted. I’ve learned it is not about how many connections you have, but about the depth and trust you build with a core group. I do not have as much time as I once did to reach out to everyone as often as I would like, but when we do reconnect, it always feels like no time has passed. Those meaningful relationships have been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Life is full of twists and turns, and it’s impossible to predict the exact path you will follow. I never expected entrepreneurship to be part of my journey, but here I am. It turns out I do not tend to choose easy paths, but being the one who shapes the successes (and failures) of my business has been incredibly rewarding. Follow your interests, take risks, learn as you go, and new branches of opportunity will open along the way. There are no wrong turns, and no wrong answers, if you stay true to yourself. Keep looking forward and taking one step at a time. Your purpose and your path will unfold as you go. Beyond that, just as I mentioned earlier about relationships, surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed and who add real value to your life.
30. Spila Trakaki
Company: kakushin.io
Linkedin: Spila Trakaki
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Kakushin helps startups grow — building MVPs, brands, and strategies with impact. Tech, design, AI, Healthtech, Edtech & Fintech beyond
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Combining strategy, storytelling, and execution. We’ve scaled by delivering value across the board , from branding to platforms and staying sharp in high-impact fields like HealthTech. But also: networking. You can have a great product, but without the right people, it’s harder to get the traction you deserve. Listening well, building relationships, and adapting fast have been key
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Build what people need, not just what’s trendy. Your story, brand, and product all matter and the best momentum comes from honest feedback, strategic risk, and a strong team. Especially in HealthTech, purpose and patience win.
Also an i really believe in this: perseverance is power. There will be hard days, especially when you’re still unknown or trying to build your network. Some mornings, just getting out of bed is the win. But keep going. Believe in every step you take.
(And for me? A to-do list written the night before has been a savior. I’m old-school so handwritten notes in my notebook keep me grounded and on track.)
29. Brooke Finlay
Company: navioimmigration.com
Linkedin: Brooke Finlay
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Automating affordable immigration legal services via Navio Immigration.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Building my network, investing in coaching, getting laser focused, and making financial reports
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Find what you’re passionate about and do that. Life’s too short not to.
28. Kasey Bayne
Company: kaseybayne.com
Linkedin: Kasey Bayne
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. In two words: Growth + Metrics. In a few more? I’m a tech marketing numbers nerd who loves solving challenging marketing problems.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Focus has been key! Especially in the early days, it’s so easy to say “yes” to everything (we’ve all done it!). But really taking the time to figure out what you’re best at, who you help, and how you work – that kind of focus is what differentiates a company from the competition. Although sometimes saying no to great people or interesting work stings a bit, knowing that you are the best X for Y: that’s clarity that will help you sell and grow.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? My best piece of advice is to not be afraid to try anything and everything when you’re first getting started in your career. Not only will you learn a lot, but you’ll find out what you’re passionate about and skilled at, and the work you’d rather not spend your days on. From there, you’re able to specialize and discover your unique offering to help you grow your career, and your business. Along with that – don’t be afraid to reach out to people you admire or would like to learn from! They won’t always answer your DM or email you back, but when they do, it’s a great way to make new connections, get feedback on a problem you’re working on, and discover a potential mentor for your career. These relationships have taught me so much throughout my career, and being able to give back while learning from others and sharing experience is so valuable.
27. Kyla Mireault
Company: boast.ai
Linkedin: Kyla Mireault
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. As the Director of SR&ED Delivery at Boast, I drive the growth and evolution of the business while ensuring clients receive the strategic support they need to maximize their innovation funding. I focus on optimizing processes, enhancing service offerings, and aligning cross-functional teams to deliver greater value to our clients. By leveraging customer psychology, communication strategies, and data-driven insights, I help shape Boast’s approach to client engagement and success. My leadership ensures that we not only support clients in navigating SR&ED but also continuously improve and scale to meet the evolving needs of the innovation ecosystem.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? I drive business growth by optimizing processes, aligning cross-functional teams, and leveraging technology to scale operations efficiently. I focus on client-centric strategies, using customer psychology and tailored communication to enhance engagement and retention. By fostering strong leadership, mentoring teams, and streamlining workflows, I ensure sustainable growth without compromising service quality. My expertise in innovation funding, combined with a strategic approach to market positioning, helps Boast evolve and stay ahead in the industry.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? I would advise aspiring female entrepreneurs or young women in business to embrace confidence in their abilities, trust their instincts, and always advocate for themselves. It’s important to be proactive in seeking out mentors and building a network of supportive peers who can provide guidance and offer fresh perspectives. Don’t be afraid to fail—failure is often a stepping stone to success and growth. Stay curious and continue to learn, as innovation and adaptability are key in today’s ever-changing business landscape. Lastly, remain authentic and true to your values; leadership is about being genuine, and building a business on your terms is incredibly rewarding. Keep pushing forward, even when challenges arise, and remember that perseverance and resilience are critical to success.
26. Mariana Santos
Company: brazilyfitness.com
Linkedin: Mariana Santos
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Founder of Brazily Fitness—helping people boost confidence & courage through dance and fitness. Creator of Brazily Dance & the Brazilian Confidence Formula!
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Collaborations, focusing on universities, consistent organic marketing, and events.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Trust your gut—it’s your best business partner. Logic matters, but your intuition will guide you to the right people, opportunities, and decisions. If something feels off, it probably is. If an idea excites you, explore it. The more you listen to yourself, the more confident and unstoppable you become.
25. Alexandra Kapelos-Peters
Company: cansulta.com
Linkedin: Alexandra Kapelos-Peters
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Helping underdogs win by making world-class consulting accessible, effective, and—dare I say—actually fun.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? A few unglamorous but game-changing truths: I build strong systems, better teams, and bold relationships. I don’t chase shiny objects (anymore)—I focus on traction, trust, and transparency. I scale by empowering others to do their best work, not by trying to do everything myself. And I never underestimate the power of showing up, following up, and lifting others as I climb. Oh—and I always leave room for a little magic and a lot of spreadsheets!
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Stop waiting for permission. You don’t need another course, a fancy title, or the “perfect” idea. Start where you are, with what you have—and be endlessly resourceful. Build relationships before you need them. Don’t pretend to know everything (no one does), but do get really good at asking smart questions and learning fast. And remember: being underestimated is a superpower. Use it. Then let your results do the talking.
24. Jessica Smith
Company: savantrecruitment.io
Linkedin: Jessica Smith
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Savant Recruitment helps you hire elite tech talent—without the bloated 20%–25% fees our competitors are charging. Our flat-fee model saves $20K–$30K per hire, cuts time-to-fill by 50%, and gives you exclusive partner perks through our Global Tech Titans Network. We’re redefining what it means to be a true hiring partner.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? As we navigate today’s market, our focus is on helping companies scale globally by connecting Founders with the talent and resources they need to expand into international markets.
I also consult directly with high-growth companies to make them leaner and more efficient, giving them access to top-tier talent and tools while they focus on building their core business.
Savant Recruitment is set up to do the majority of the heavy lifting of tedious recruitment searches, including testing in 99+ languages and frameworks, so all hiring managers don’t have to stress about being pulling themselves our their teams out of production numerous times to go through the technical rounds.
On top of this, we’ve built out a Tech Titans partnership team, which we’re building out globally now, to put in front of our clients as they continue to scale. We also have strategic partnerships with other vendors that our clients can take advantage of utilizing them at a discounted rate, if they work with us!
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Building a business is no easy feat. It takes resilience, clarity of purpose, and the ability to adapt quickly. My biggest piece of advice? Don’t just focus on the product or service—focus on the relationships. The partnerships you build along the way will open doors, provide support, and often be the key to scaling effectively.
Be intentional with your time, surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Stay lean, stay curious, and always be solving real problems. The market will reward authenticity, value, and consistency over hype.
23. Karen Wong
Company: vetster.com
Linkedin: Karen Wong
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. I tell compelling brand stories and help my team drive marketing campaigns to fuel growth for Vetster. Previously, I led the marketing efforts at SingleKey.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Finding mentors and being a mentor have had a tremendous impact on my career growth. Learning from others motivates me to take on new challenges and try different strategies, while sharing my knowledge gives me a chance to reflect on my experiences and empower others to navigate their own paths.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Pause. Be curious. While there are benefits to moving quickly and efficiently, I’ve recently found it more rewarding to stop and ask questions: “What if we approached this in another way?” Instead of reaching for the same solution, I’m often surprised by a new, better idea.
I recommend carrying this same curiosity to building professional relationships. When you start genuinely getting to know someone, you find common ground, more productive ways to achieve shared goals, and a deeper sense of connection that makes work more fulfilling—and fun.
22. Angie Kramer
Company: proveracare.com
Linkedin: Angie Kramer
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. ProveraCare is an intuitive, mobile-first platform that streamlines scheduling, check-ins, and communication for home healthcare teams.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Scaled by co-creating with clients, prioritizing ease of use, and targeting franchises for fast, repeatable growth.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Don’t be afraid to pivot, your first idea might simply be the starting point, and that’s ok.
21. Mell Truong
Company: torontotechweek.com
Linkedin: Mell Truong
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. I’m an ecosystem leader bringing together founders, VCs and innovators in tech through curated and memorable events.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Authentic and real, working with clients to scale impact. Builds the business by walking the walk.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? With the right support systems and champions, you can do anything and to just do what you want to do now. Don’t wait – there may never be the perfect time. Be brave and go!
20. Karli Leitl
Company: blankabrand.com
Linkedin: Karli Leitl
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Keeping the ship sailing at Blanka, leading ops, people, and strategy to make sure the big vision becomes a daily reality. The glue that holds everything together.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Building systems that scale, but more importantly, building trust as high-performing team starts with clear communication, thoughtful processes, and leading with empathy. You have to always be ten steps ahead by anticipating challenges before they become problems and turning chaos into clarity.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? The idea that you don’t need to have all the answers to take the first step. Be curious, ask great questions, and surround herself with people who stretch your thinking. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice, it’s about listening, learning, and showing up consistently.
19. Samantha Lloyd
Linkedin: Samantha Lloyd
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Marketing executive and team leader who has driven over $100M+ in closed-won pipeline for B2B SaaS organizations, with a specific focus in fintech.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals?
Provide value to your network. It’s something a wonderful friend and colleague taught me early-on and it’s been my biggest asset.
18. Miriam Dong
Company: boast.ai
Linkedin: Miriam Dong
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. I help founders strategize non-dilutive funding opportunities and optimize R&D tax credit returns to fuel their growth.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? As a ex-founder, investor, and operator, my career growth has been driven by:
- Deep Industry Knowledge & Trusted Advisor Approach – Leveraging my firsthand experience to guide founders on non-dilutive funding, SR&ED, and scaling strategies.
- Continuous Learning & Adaptability – Staying ahead of industry trends and evolving funding opportunities to provide relevant, high-value insights.
- Building Communities & Relationships – Creating meaningful connections with founders, investors, and industry leaders to foster long-term growth.
- The “Give, Give, Give” Mindset – Prioritizing value creation—offering insights, introductions, and resources—before asking for anything in return.
- Founder, Investor & Operator Perspective – Understanding the challenges of building, funding, and scaling a business from multiple angles, allowing me to provide strategic, founder-friendly solutions.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Here’s some advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs and young women in business:
- Own Your Expertise & Confidence – Don’t wait for permission to take up space. Speak up, trust your instincts, and position yourself as a leader in your industry.
- Build a Strong Network – Surround yourself with mentors, peers, and champions who uplift you. Relationships are key to unlocking opportunities and gaining valuable insights.
- Adopt a ‘Give, Give, Give’ Mentality – The more value you provide—whether through insights, introductions, or support—the stronger your network and influence will become.
- Be Adaptable & Keep Learning – Industries evolve, and staying ahead means continuously sharpening your skills, understanding trends, and being open to change.
- Embrace Risk & Resilience – Entrepreneurship and leadership come with challenges, but setbacks are part of growth. Learn, pivot, and keep moving forward.
- Negotiate & Advocate for Yourself – Whether it’s funding, salaries, or business deals, ask for what you deserve. Data and preparation are your best tools.
- Lead with Authenticity – Your perspective and leadership style are your strengths. You don’t have to fit a mold—success comes from owning who you are.
- Find Your Community – Whether it’s other female founders, business leaders, or investors, having a support system can make all the difference in navigating challenges.
17. Kayli Smith
Company: friendlier.com
Linkedin: Kayli Smith
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Friendlier is a rapidly scaling circular supply chain solution for packaging, enabling companies to unlock value from the packaging and eliminate single-use.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively?
1. Consider risk vs reward when making big decisions that require courage. When I started my business, I knew that if I failed, I’d be embarrassed and potentially behind my peers from a career standpoint, but if I was successful, I will have fundamentally changed the way we consumed and majorly impacted the planet in a positive way – the reward outweighed the risk in my mind.
2. Do not settle when it comes to your team, find the brightest people you can with experience and skills that fill your gaps.
3. Remember that noone (even experts) have all the right answers. As a founder, you get a lot of advice and feedback, but it’s important to think critically about what truly fits for your business and leave the rest.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Never fall into a victim mentality. The stats around women in business can be disheartening, but all you can do is acknowledge it, figure out what you need to do to be successful, and get it done. In other words, find a way to make it work despite the inequalities you’re facing.
16. Megan Hall
Company: chocolatesoup.co
Linkedin: Megan Hall
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. We help teams celebrate milestones and moments that matter with Chocolate Soup LEGO™ minifigs and meaningful gifts.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Leading with empathy—and following through with action—has been the foundation for everything.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Don’t wait for permission. If you see a gap, fill it. Be generous with your knowledge, build strong relationships, and stay grounded in your values. Entrepreneurship isn’t a solo sport. Find your people and build something meaningful together.
15. Miki Ferrall
Company site: craftyramen.com
Linkedin: Miki Ferrall
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. I’m the Co-founder of Crafty Ramen, managing teams, sales & operations—from guest experience to food quality and more.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? In my role, I really focus on the growth and development of our team and their individual growth which is essential for a growing business. Without individual growth, there can be no future growth. I work closely with our team members, whether cooking on the line at our restaurants or in our commissary kitchen preparing and packing our frozen products. I lead by example, setting clear expectations for the team. I focus on learning the operations, collaborating with the team, and identifying ‘Kaizen’ (continuous improvement) opportunities to keep the business moving forward. My goal is to strengthen the team, making it better each day. I try to create a culture where it’s okay to mistakes, but emphasising the importance of learning from them so we can avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future. I give employees the opportunity to think for themselves and focus on supporting their self-improvement, which helps foster and strengthen their growth and in turn our growth as a company.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, but embrace the journey! It is a roller coaster—one moment everything looks promising, and the next, everything can change and you have to pivot to figure out how to solve the next problem. These hardships come and go, but embrace both the good and bad moments, fully experiencing the emotions they bring and do your best to learn from the lessons they teach. By doing so, you’re enriching your life, growing personally and professionally, and becoming stronger to handle whatever the next curve ball throws at you. What feels like short-term pain will become your strength in the long run. For working moms – don’t feel guilty for working hard! You’re teaching your child the invaluable lesson of perseverance and the true meaning of hard work and leading by example.
14. Christine Kim
Company: medmehealth.com
Linkedin: Christine Kim
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Drive growth, scale operations, and lead cross-functional initiatives to power MedMe’s transformation of pharmacies into healthcare hubs
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Scaling MedMe has been less about following a playbook and more about writing one in real time. In a resource-constrained, fast-growing environment, the most effective strategy has been being relentlessly pragmatic — doing whatever it takes to keep the company moving while quietly putting in place the structures needed to scale.
Early on, this meant building the foundations we needed to function, standing up essential processes across recruiting, onboarding, financial operations, compliance, and people programs. This wasn’t just about “getting things done”; it was about designing systems that were light enough to adapt but strong enough to scale. What started as ad hoc work became formalized — pricing structures, performance management frameworks, implementation playbooks — turning improvisation into something repeatable and dependable.
At the same time, scaling required showing up on the growth side — leading RFP responses, crafting enterprise sales and renewal strategies, and supporting major contract negotiations. This dual lens of balancing internal scale with external opportunity became my default operating model.
As MedMe evolved, so did my focus. Today, much of the work centres on scaling revenue and market presence, including our company-wide rebrand as we reposition around AI-powered pharmacy care. This involves everything from revamping our go-to-market strategy, overseeing brand and product marketing, navigating U.S. and U.K. market entry, and shaping how we articulate our AI suite, both internally and externally.
But beyond tactics, the real strategy has been navigating the grey areas — balancing founder dynamics, influencing without formal authority, and staying focused on what unlocks progress rather than chasing perfection. My approach has been simple: do whatever it takes, whether that’s architecting strategy, building repeatable systems, or rolling up my sleeves to get a deal or project over the line. No task is above or beneath me if it moves us forward. What’s remained constant is a commitment to full ownership — taking accountability not just for my work, but often for whatever stands between the team and the outcome. In a startup, the best strategy I’ve found isn’t just structure or grit — it’s consistently stepping up and taking responsibility, even when the path forward isn’t clear.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? In startups, there’s often work that quietly holds everything together — shaping structure, creating alignment, and building the connective tissue that makes growth possible. For anyone doing this work — the operational, cross-functional, and often ambiguous — know that it matters. Especially as a non-technical leader, it can be easy to underestimate the value of this work when surrounded by technical peers with more visible outputs (in demos, sprint reviews, or code commits). But this work is not just valuable, it’s essential. Without it, teams ship but don’t scale.
Influence in these environments rarely comes from title or permission. It comes from stepping up, taking ownership, and solving the problems that don’t have obvious owners. Often, the highest-impact work is uncomfortable — it cuts across domains, it requires judgment without perfect information, and it doesn’t always feel like “your job.” But consistently showing up in these moments is where leadership, trust, and long-term influence are built.
If you find yourself doing this work, don’t just wait to be recognized — name it, shape it, and claim it. Make the invisible visible. Build the processes, create the clarity, and help your team see this work for what it is: essential to growth. This is what creates momentum — the ability for a company to move faster, with less friction, and to scale sustainably instead of reactively.
Most importantly, invest in the people around you who are doing the same. Spot it in others and give it weight. Scaling your own impact is important — scaling a culture that values this kind of work is even more powerful.
13. Nino Melikidze
Company: immitracker.app
Linkedin: Nino Melikidze
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. I run Immitracker, the Waze of immigration. We’re an application tracker and community for immigrants relocating to leading countries.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? I started a WhatsApp community in 2023 that grew to 8.5K+ members for various programs. I personally vetted who joined and moderated the conversation. This and running an immigrant success focused podcast in 2022 enabled me to become an SME in the Canadian immigration space and drive both my business and career at an exponential pace
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Just rip off the band aid and do the thing you’ve been dreaming about doing. Whether it’s a business, side hustle, passion project, we’re always so scared to begin or worried about the implications of rejection or failure. In reality, it doesn’t matter at all. Every mistake you’ll learn from and what works ends up being so much better than you thought it would be.
12. Anita Grant
Company: hellohairbook.com
Linkedin: Anita Grant
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Hello Hair is a social enterprise dedicated to textured hair education, representation, and self-love. We create culturally affirming products, programs, and experiences that empower children, youth, and families to embrace their natural crowns with confidence.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Our growth has been rooted in community. From the beginning, we’ve focused on building genuine relationships and showing up with purpose. Being actively engaged in the ecosystem—whether through collaborations, events, or grassroots initiatives—has allowed us to stay connected to the people and partners who matter most. We’ve also leaned into the power of our network, continuously learning from mentors, peers, and changemakers who’ve helped us sharpen our vision and strategy. For us, scaling has never just been about numbers—it’s been about impact, connection, and staying true to our mission.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Always remain a student. No matter how far you go or what title you carry, the most successful entrepreneurs I know are the ones who stay curious, open, and humble enough to keep learning. Every conversation, every challenge, every failure is a lesson in disguise. Growth comes when you’re willing to listen, adapt, and ask the questions others are afraid to. The moment you think you know it all is the moment you stop evolving. Stay teachable—that’s where the magic happens.
11. April Hicke
Company: trytoast.community
Linkedin: April Hicke
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. With over 15 years of experience in leadership, mentoring, and strategic team development, I am the co-founder and Chief Growth Officer at Toast, a talent partner dedicated to increasing gender diversity within the tech industry. As a Certified Change Practitioner and social innovation enthusiast, I lead the business with a focus on strategic growth—driving business development, building strong stakeholder relationships, and refining market strategies to maximize impact and scalability. My role is centered on creating and executing plans and partnerships that position Toast for long-term success.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Work hard and be nice to people. That’s it. Those are the only rules.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Don’t let anyone else make you feel small.
10. Ruchi Varshney
Company: maplebilling.com
Linkedin: Ruchi Varshney
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Maple is an all-in-one revenue management platform for any pricing model and any sales motion.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Having the chance to be at top schools like Waterloo and Stanford, and working in Silicon valley with top tech talent and amazing career mentors has played a huge role in my career.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Seek leadership mentorship, not just being top notch at the job at hand. Being able to inspire and lead people is a huge part of succeeding.
9. Heather Odendaal
Company: wnorthconnect.com
Linkedin: Heather Odendaal
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Canadian entrepreneur, brand builder, and event producer whose experience in corporate environments inspired her to found WNORTH in 2015, an award-winning membership network (1,700+ members and growing) dedicated to bridging the gender power gap by elevating women in the leadership pipeline. WNORTH has Chapter Cities throughout North America and the U.K., where members can network and uplift each other through Roundtables, Dinners, Forum Groups, City Summits and annual Conference in Whistler returning for it’s 10 year anniversary April 30-May 2, 2025.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? A significant portion of our membership growth has occurred organically, driven by grassroots events and initiatives led by WNORTH Ambassadors—many of whom first engaged with us through our annual conference. The annual conference and city summits have been instrumental in fostering the inclusive and supportive community that defines our network, enabling us to scale and grow authentically.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? My advice is to work for a small business or another female founder before you start out on your own. There is a steep learning curve when building a business and it will help you enormously to learn from others (and to make mistakes with the support of a team).
8. Cerys Goodall
Company: vetster.com & thegoods.io
Linkedin: Cerys Goodall
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Experienced leader building startups from the ground up to growth with triple digit growth success.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Carefully navigating changing markets, a pandemic, and industry trends to capitalize on D2C and B2B opportunities to maximize revenue, market reach and international growth. This resulted in 562% growth for Vetster over the last 3 years and being named a Deloitte Fast 50 Company to Watch. Founded The Goods to help startups and brand in the midst of change, to carefully steward teams toward acquisition and market expansions. Now with three clients acquired.
What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs or young women in business? Examine and unshackle your limiting beliefs. There are no failures, only lessons unlearned.
7. Rebecca Graham
Company: brightiron.com
Linkedin: Rebecca Graham
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Partner and Founder of the HR Practice. Fractional HR leader with startup and enterprise experience, building strong teams and people-first practices that scale.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? My experience across both start-ups and global organizations inspired me to build the HR Practice at BrightIron. I’ve distilled everything I’ve learned into a suite of practical tools, templates, and resources that founders can immediately leverage. To support day-to-day operations, I’ve brought in HR Specialists who thrive in fast-paced, early-stage environments.
This model gives founders access to senior-level expertise—without the cost of hiring a full-time VP of HR before it’s truly needed. As the company scales, we build out the HR infrastructure, so by the time a full-time hire makes sense, they’re stepping into a solid foundation—not starting from scratch.
I’ve seen firsthand the challenges start-ups face when it comes to HR, and that insight is at the heart of everything we’ve built. It’s a blend of deep industry knowledge and a genuine passion for building great companies—and I’m incredibly proud of the service model we’ve created.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Go with what you know, and figure out the rest as you go.When I look back on my career before BrightIron, it’s clear that every experience led me here. In my early days at start-ups, I was often humbled—uncertain, inexperienced, and sometimes overwhelmed. But I was also eager, passionate, and all-in. I built my network early, got involved in my communities, and found mentors who challenged and supported me.
It became clear pretty quickly: I needed to understand scale. If any of those start-ups took off, I didn’t yet have the experience to help them grow. So I followed a mentor into a large enterprise, where I spent the better part of a decade developing and honing my skills. I scaled from Manager to Senior Director, supported senior executives, led global initiatives and M&A work, and played a key role in a major business transformation.
After nine years, I knew it was time to return to what I’ve always loved—start-ups. And now, with BrightIron, I’ve poured everything I’ve learned into building a business that supports the founders of today. It’s incredibly fulfilling to bring together all the skills I’ve developed—both the ones I worked hard for and the ones I didn’t realize I was picking up along the way—and use them to relate to, support, and grow alongside other builders navigating the same challenges.
6. Adrienne Jung
Company: eeva.ai
Linkedin: Adrienne Jung
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Reimagining how we live at home—leading eeva to transform the invisible labour of daily life into something simple, shared, and smart.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Focusing on clarity, trust, and momentum. I’ve scaled by getting brutally clear on our value, building a team I trust deeply, and moving fast without rushing. I don’t chase hype – I double down on product, brand, and people. And I’ve learned that saying no early and often is just as powerful as knowing when to say yes.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Build something real, not just impressive. Don’t get distracted by the noise – traction, titles, press. Focus on solving a real problem for real people. Stay close to your users. Ask better questions. And remember: resilience isn’t about never falling, it’s about learning how to get back up faster, sharper, and more focused.
5. PJ Lowe
Company: chocolatesoup.co
Linkedin: PJ Lowe
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. At Chocolate Soup, we make employee recognition unforgettable with custom LEGO™ minifigs and curated gifts that show people they matter.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? We focused on one powerful idea—employee recognition—and got really good at it. From there, we listened closely to our customers and let their needs shape our growth. Staying small but mighty has let us scale thoughtfully, build lasting relationships, and stay true to our mission of making people feel seen and valued.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Start with purpose. Know why you’re doing what you’re doing and who you’re doing it for. Then keep going even when it gets hard. Build strong relationships, ask for help, and don’t be afraid to do things differently. Sometimes the smallest, kindest ideas have the biggest impact.
4. Katherine Li
Company: pulsefx.com
Linkedin: Katherine Li
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. I’m the co-founder of PulseFX, specializing in FX hedging, financing, and payments with strategies for navigating complex market conditions.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? I’ve found that asking the right questions is essential to understanding a client’s true challenges. Every business is unique, so I make it a priority to really learn how they operate. That insight allows me to offer solutions that are both effective and impactful. I’ve also learned the importance of staying adaptable, leveraging the right technology, and moving quickly when opportunities arise. That approach has helped us grow PulseFX in a way that’s both efficient and deeply client-focused.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? Don’t wait until you feel ‘ready’, start where you are and learn as you go. Surrounding yourself with people who will challenge and support you, and stay focused on solving real problems. Build a strong network, ask questions freely, and trust that your perspective has value. I’ve found so much growth by surrounding myself with people who push me to be better while having my back every step of the way.
3. Sarah Lesperance
Company: humi.ca
Linkedin: Sarah Lesperance
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. As Head of SRED Strategy and Growth at Humi, I lead our efforts to help startups unlock and optimize SR&ED tax credits to extend their runway and grow their teams with confidence. I’ve built partnerships with leading Canadian accelerators and innovation hubs—from DMZ and Yukonstruct to regional innovation programs across the country—embedding our expertise directly into the ecosystems where early-stage companies are growing. Through these collaborations, I provide founders with strategic guidance, tools, and education to align their hiring and R&D plans with funding opportunities, helping them access capital faster and make smarter, growth-driven decisions.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? One of the biggest things that’s helped me grow in my career has been focusing on community building. I’ve found that when you genuinely invest in relationships—whether it’s through partnering with accelerators, running founder meetups, or just showing up consistently for others—it naturally creates opportunities and momentum. It’s never been about selling something; it’s about being helpful, sharing what I know, and building trust. That kind of connection has been a game-changer for scaling impact and opening doors in a way that feels real and lasting.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? My biggest piece of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals is to focus on relationships before results. The best opportunities, insights, and support often come from the people around you—not just what you know, but who you’re connected to and how you show up for them.
2. Purvaja Soochit
Company: binoloop.com
Linkedin: Purvaja Soochit
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Atlas is a secure government AI productivity tool by Binoloop that is automates manual tasks in permitting, procurement, and compliance with AI-driven workflows.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? We’ve scaled by focusing on government-first AI automation, securing paid pilots, and building strategic partnerships with IT integrators. Prioritizing compliance, security, and high-impact automation in permitting and procurement has driven adoption. A trust-based sales approach, lean development, and thought leadership through webinars and policy discussions have positioned Atlas as a leader in secure AI-driven government modernization.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in business? Focus on solving real problems with a clear value proposition. Build strong relationships, seek mentors, and advocate for yourself confidently. Leverage your unique perspective, stay resilient through challenges, and prioritize execution over perfection. Most importantly, own your expertise—your ideas and leadership belong at the table.
1. Anastasia Hambali
Company: boast.ai
Linkedin: Anastasia Hambali
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Seasoned startup operator (2 exits), advisor, and angel investor with over 15 years of experience in growing and scaling companies. Currently leading Strategic Partnerships and Alliances at Boast, having built the partner programs from the ground up into a multi-million-dollar revenue-generating department.
What strategies have helped you scale or grow your business or career effectively? Pay it forward.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals? There’s a time to learn and a time to earn. While most opportunities can offer both, one may outweigh the other. If a new opportunity offers significant learning potential, it’s okay if the pay isn’t top dollar. However, if it allows you to showcase your expertise from the start, ensure you’re compensated what you’re worth.
